Automotive engine exhaust purifier

ABSTRACT

A process of purifying the exhaust emissions of an automotive engine, by passing the exhaust gas through a series of tanks containing a mixture of saline solution and a solution of TriSodium Phosphate. The tanks may be located adjacent the engine section of the automobile and behind the front headlight and fender section for optimum cooling.

United States Patent 1191 UNITED STATES PATENTS Caballero 55/94 Prem Das Feb. 26, 1974 AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE EXHAUST 3,353,336 11/1967 Caballero 55/244 PURIFIER 3,41 1,270 l 1/1968 Connelius et al. 55/68 2,789,032 4 1957 Bagley et al. 55/1310. 30 Inventor: g y Prem L95 g 3,282,047 11/1966 Wertheimer..... 55/010. 30 Calif. 3,485,015 l2/l969 Vecchio 55/DlG. 3O

[73] Assignee: The Raymond Lee Organization,

F New York a P Primary Examiner--Charles N. Hart Interest Attorney, Agent, or Firml-loward I. Podell [22] Filed: June 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 266,532

[57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 55/93, 55/95, 55/223, A process of purifying the exhaust emissions Of an au- 55/244 tomotive engine, by passing the exhaust gas through a [5 1] Int. Cl B0ld 47/00 Series of tanks containing a mixture of Saline Solution [58] Fleld of Search SS/DIG- 94, 95, and a solution of Tri-Sodium Phosphate. The tanks 55/223 244, 256 may be located adjacent the engine section of the automobile and behind the front headlight and fender [56] References Cited section for optimum cooling.

1 Claim, 1 Drawing Figure AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE EXHAUST PURIFIER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a process for purifying the exhaust emissions of an automotive engine, by passing the exhaust gases through a series of tanks containing a wash solution, and particularly a solution whichis a mixture of a saline solution and Tri-Sodium Phosphate.

The exhaust gases from the engine are passed into a primary tank which is filled to the level of threequarters of its height with the wash solution by a supply tank of the solution. Vents from the primary tank lead excess vapor, or overflow liquid to two additional auxillary tanks containing the wash solution. The auxilliary tanks are vented for the relief of any excess pressure. The level of solution in the primary tank is maintained by gravity flow of the solution from the supply tank, in accordance with the control of a metering float located in the primary tank. The tanks are preferably set up in linear order with each of the two auxilliary tanks located directly behind the primary tank. A double set of tanks as described above may be mounted in an automobile, with one complete system mounted in a front fender on one side of the automobile, and the other system of tanks mounted in the other front fender.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The objects and features of the invention may be understood with reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention, taken together with the accompanying drawing which is a process sketch of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now descriptively'to the drawing, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the views the drawing illustrates the exhaust purifying system which comprises supply tank containing a mixture of a saline solution and Tri- Sodium Phosphate solution 11. The-solution ll flows by gravity through supply pipe 13 to the primary tank 20. Metering valve 12 in supply pipe 13 controls the flow of liquid 11 to the primary tank 20 in accord with a float level detecting means in the primary tank 20 which limits the height of the solution 11 in the primary tank 20 to three-quarters of the height, h, of the primary tank. Overflow outlets 24 in the supply tank 20 are connected by pipes 25 to two auxilliary tanks 30, each of which is equipped with air and gas vents 31 and liquid overflow outlets 32.

The lower sections of all tanks are lined with removable filter elements 22 which retain the solid particles that have precipitated out of liquid 11 when the liquid 11 is released from the tanks through the individual drain pipes 23 located at the bottom of each tank. All tanks are enclosed with removable covers 26.

Exhaust gas 14, from the engine, is led through the exhaust manifold 15 into the primary tank 20 below the normal level of the solution 11 in tank 20. Uncondensed gas vapor and liquid overflow from primary tank 20 exits through overflow outlets 24 and pipes 25 to either of the two auxilliary tanks 30, where the overflow product 27 from the primary tank 20 is led below the normal level of the liquid 11 in the auxilliary tanks 30.

Uncondensed vapor exits the auxilliary tanks 30 through outlets 31 located in the sides of the tank. Overflow outlets 32 are also provided for excess liquid in the sides of the tanks 30.

The primary and auxilliary tanks may be cooled by being placed in the airstream of the moving vehicle, preferably under a front automobile fender. The wash solution of a mixture of saline solution and Tri-Sodium Phosphate dissolves some of the solids in the exhaust emissions, while much of the gas vapors are condensed in the tank system.

Since obvious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, it is indicated that all matter contained herein is intended as illustrative and not as limiting in scope.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A process of purifying the exhaust emissions of an automotive engine by passing the exhaust gases through a series of tanks containing a mixture of a saline solution and a solution of Tri-Sodium Phosphate, in which the engine exhaust gas is passed into the said liquid solution, below the solution level, in a primary tank, said solution being maintained to a minimum level in the primary tank by a valve in the supply line leading from a supply tank to the primary tank, so as to maintain a uniform level of solution in the primary tank, in which an overflow outlet in the primary tank located above the solution level is connected to a pipe leading below the level of a similar liquid solution in an auxiliary tank, said liquid solution in the auxiliary tank being otherwise not connected to the liquid solution of the primary tank so that each tank may be drained independently of each other, with the primary tank and the auxiliary tank located so as to be cooled by an airstream generated when the vehicle in which they are mounted is in a moving status. 

